Magic-Pacers Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSONPosted Oct 28 2013 7:02PM

The Indiana Pacers have continually improved under Frank Vogel, advancing deeper into the playoffs each season. After adding more depth, they're focused on taking another step forward - which they hope leads to the top of the Eastern Conference.

Hosting the lowly Orlando Magic, who appear set for another rebuilding season, may help them get off to a quick start in Tuesday night's opener.

Indiana went 49-32 in the regular season and advanced to within one win of the NBA Finals before being eliminated by Miami. The Pacers were ousted by the Heat a round earlier in 2012, a year after Vogel led them to their first playoff berth in five years.

The success has stemmed largely from dominant defensive play that has been among the best in the league the past two seasons, during which time Indiana has limited opponents to 42.7 percent shooting and 92.4 points per game.

The re-signing of David West - who ranked third among East forwards in plus-minus - solidifies what could be another stingy team at its end of the floor.

Breaking through for a Finals appearance, however, will likely require better offensive play. Indiana hopes to achieve it after acquiring Luis Scola from Phoenix in exchange for a lottery-protected first-round pick, Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee. Scola has averaged 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds over six seasons.

"I think when you trade away a future first-round pick and a couple of players like we did, I think it sends the message that it's not a go-for-it year but a go-for-it time for the next couple of years," Vogel said.

The Pacers haven't reached the Finals since their lone appearance in 2000.

"Last year, the expectations were high, but there's not a whole lot different this year - other than that we're bigger and stronger," he said.

Many expect even more from Paul George after he averaged a team-best 17.4 points and was named the league's most improved player in his third year.

They also added free agents Chris Copeland and C.J. Watson, who were among the top 25 in the league in 3-point shooting last season. Indiana's 34.7 percent mark from beyond the arc in 2012-13 ranked 22nd.

However, the Pacers likely will have to wait to realize their full offensive potential after Monday's announcement that Danny Granger would miss the first three weeks with a left calf injury. The team insists it's a precautionary measure, though there's likely some concern considering a knee injury limited him to five games last season.

"It's not terrible," said Granger, who had led Indiana in scoring for five straight seasons prior to 2012-13. "They (the doctors) just said to sit out until I didn't feel it."

Being without Granger may not prove too costly against Orlando, which finished a league-worst 20-62 in its first season without Dwight Howard.

For the Magic, all eyes will be on No. 2 overall pick Victor Oladipo as he makes his NBA debut in a building that's less than 60 miles away where he played three years for Indiana University. Oladipo comes off an All-American season but is being shifted to point guard after playing on the wing for the Hoosiers.

"I have higher expectations of myself, even higher than some people have of me," Oladipo said. "I'm just going to play basketball at the end of the day. And I want to win just like everybody else."

Jameer Nelson, among the top 10 in the league with 7.4 assists per game last season, is expected to be the starter at point guard while serving as a mentor to Oladipo.

Third- and second-year players Tobias Harris and Maurice Harkless represent further promise for the Magic after both made major strides toward the end of last season. Harris averaged 17.3 points in his final 27 games while Harkless scored 13.4 over his final 30.

Indiana limited Orlando to 39.1 percent field-goal shooting and 85.3 points per game while taking two of three meetings last season.

George has averaged 21.5 points in his last four matchups with the Magic while hitting seven of 14 3-point attempts.

Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Pacers pull away from Magic, 97-87

By MICHAEL MAROTPosted Oct 29 2013 11:03PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana fans gave Victor Oladipo a warm welcome to the NBA on Tuesday night.

Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder.

Paul George's buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup.

"We've got to win the battles, win the tough games and we've got to win the games that we should win," George said. "We have to take care of business early and not rely on the end of the season to start playing well and start getting a streak going. We have to start a streak early."

They got off to a good start Tuesday - even though it was a little ragged for a team that might have the best chance of unseating two-time defending NBA champion Miami.

Indiana committed 20 turnovers and gave up 13 offensive rebounds against the worst team in the league last season.

Roy Hibbert, who was two rebounds short of his career-high (17) in the first half, grabbed only one in the second half and left midway through the fourth quarter after an awkward tumble underneath his own basket that left him grasping at his knee. A few moments later, the 7-foot-2 former All-Star limped to the bench and coach Frank Vogel said Hibbert is expected to play Wednesday night at New Orleans.

Despite the struggles, the Pacers still managed to get things done.

George finished with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists. Lance Stephenson had 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Hibbert scored just eight points but had 16 rebounds and seven blocks and the rebuilt bench played a huge role, scoring all but four points during the decisive run.

It left Vogel optimistic about the season.

"Our bench, in the last three preseason games and tonight, really just blew the game open," he said. "I think they're going to be really strong, I think it was just a matter of nerves tonight."

The Pacers were aware they were facing split allegiances in Oladipo's adopted home state.

More than 90 minutes before tipoff, one section near the court was almost completely full of fans decked out in Indiana University colors or fans wearing new Magic jerseys, far more than the 18 to 20 people Oladipo said he gave tickets to.

When the former Indiana star wasn't announced as a starter, the fans saved a rousing standing ovation for Oladipo's grand entrance - midway through the first quarter. But by the third quarter most of those cheers were drowned out by a smattering of boos, a sign that Oladipo is no longer just the hometown kid.

The Magic were led by Andrew Nicholson, who scored all 18 of his points in the first half. Maurice Harkless added 14 and Jameer Nelson had 12 as the Magic shot 38.7 percent from the field.

But most of the near sellout crowd wanted to see how quickly and smoothly Oladipo could make the transition from college star to NBA franchise player. He finished 4 of 11 from the field with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and three turnovers.

"It was a great atmosphere. There were a lot of Hoosier fans in there," he said. "I would have liked to have won, but overall it was pretty cool."

The short-handed Magic still had a chance after Ronnie Price cut the Pacers lead to 65-64 with 6.1 seconds left in the third quarter.

After the basket, Orlando was called for delay of game and David West made the free throw. George then took the inbounds pass from his own baseline, drove to within 26 feet and made a 3 from beyond the top of the key to give Indiana a 69-64 lead.

Indiana's rebuilt bench then took control. The backups scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 10, and that 12-4 run made it 86-68 with 7:35 left.

"We have to be dominant at home if we hope to compete for the one seed with the likes of Brooklyn, New York, Chicago and Miami," Vogel said. "You have to be dominant at home."

NOTES: Indiana recognized last season's Central Division title banner during pregame introductions. ... Pacers fans got a special preview of the 15-foot statue of Larry Bird that will be dedicated at a formal ceremony next weekend on the campus of Indiana State, Bird's alma mater. It was temporarily placed in the lobby of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. ... The Pacers lead the all-time series with Orlando 45-44. ... Indiana Hoosiers coach Tom Crean told Orlando's Fox affiliate that he would miss Oladipo's scoring and deflections more than his singing. ... Orlando's Tobias Harris and Doron Lamb sat out with sprained ankles.

Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Notebook: Pacers 97, Magic 87

THE FACT: Victor Oladipo's NBA debut was a modest success as Orlando's No. 2 overall pick had 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in 22:35 off the bench in what amounted to a homecoming game for the former Indiana University standout.

THE LEAD: The focus of Indiana's offseason plan was to build a better bench capable of lifting them to the top of the East. After a rough first half, the reserves made the difference in the second, sparking a 15-1 run that broke open a close game and sent the Pacers to a 97-87 victory over Orlando Tuesday in Bankers Life Fieldhouse in the season opener for both teams. Paul George scored 24 with six rebounds and five assists to lead Indiana, while Lance Stephenson had 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Andrew Nicholson led Orlando with 18 points off the bench, all in the first half.

QUOTABLE: "We didn't really play a great game but we made enough plays to get out of here with a double-digit victory."-- Indiana coach Frank Vogel

THE STAT: Indiana set a home record with 18 blocks, including seven by Roy Hibbert and a career-high-tying five from David West.

TURNING POINT: George ended the third quarter with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave the Pacers some breathing room with a 69-64 lead and the reserves took it from there, as Luis Scola, Orlando Johnson and Ian Mahinmi combined for the next 11 points in a 15-1 run that pushed Indiana's lead to 80-65 with 8:42 remaining.

QUOTABLE II: "We knew Orlando was a young scrappy team with the ability to score points in bunches. I just thought in the third quarter we were able to settle our defense down, get them under control and work from our defense."-- David West

GOOD MOVE: With Danny Granger out three more weeks with a strained left calf, Vogel turned not to free-agent acquisition Chris Copeland, but to second-year guard Orlando Johnson to fill the second-unit void. Johnson finished with nine points on 3-for-4 shooting.

BAD MOVE: Nicholson dominated the first half, hitting eight of nine shots and racking up 18 points in less than 13 minutes. But Orlando coach Jacque Vaughn opted to stick with unproductive veteran Jason Maxiell at power forward to start the second half, leaving Nicholson on the bench the entire third period and the long wait cooled him off. He did not score after intermission. Maxiell wound up scoreless in 26 minutes, missing all five of his shots.

HOT: George and Stephenson combined to shoot 16-for-28 for Indiana. ... The Pacers' reserves hit 7-for-10 in the second half. ... Hibbert also had 16 rebounds, 12 in the first quarter. ... Nicholson wound up 8-for-10 for the Magic.

QUOTABLE III: "It felt good getting that reaction from the fans, but I like to win."-- Victor Oladipo

NOTABLE: Hibbert went down holding his left knee with 5:22 remaining and limped to the locker room but returned to the bench a few minutes later and was given the all clear. He will be back in the lineup Wednesday night when the Pacers face the Pelicans in New Orleans. ... Outscored 27-5 in the first half, Indiana had a 21-17 edge in bench scoring in the second. ... West scored 13 for Indiana, while Mo Harkless scored 14 for Orlando. ... Indiana has won four straight home openers, and three straight season openers. ... Indiana outscored Orlando 22-6 from the free throw line but made just 68.8 percent.

UP NEXT: For the Pacers, Wednesday at New Orleans, Saturday vs. Cleveland, Tuesday at Detroit. For the Magic, Wednesday at Minnesota, Friday vs. New Orleans, Sunday vs. Brooklyn.